Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO – The Boston Bruins will get their most harmful offensive participantagainwithin the lineup, whereas the Toronto Maple Leafs shouldproceedto outlivewith out theirs.
Brad Marchand, who missed two video games with a concussion, will take to the ice Friday at Air Canada Centre. Toronto’s Auston Matthews, nevertheless, stays day-to-day with an upper-body harm.
"He does lots ofinjury for that staff, however they nonetheless have lots of weapons," Marchand stated. "[Nazem] Kadri’s been good the final couple years. Clearly, [William] Nylander, [Tyler] Bozak, [Morgan] Rielly on the againfinish. [Patrick] Marleau coming in—that’s an enormous veteran presence. No matter who they’re lacking, they’re a harmfulstaff."

Marchand returns from concussion to face 'very harmful' Maple Leafs

Marchand completed top-five in NHL scoring in 2016-17 and had picked up the place he left off this fall, scoring eight targets and 14 factorsby way of 12 video gamesearlier than getting faraway from Saturday’s loss versus Washington.
"The previous few days I’ve felt good and determinedto come backagain," stated Marchand.
"Each time you don’t care for the puck, [Toronto] can capitalize on it. Particularlyright here, they actually thrive off the momentum. Once they get going, they’re actuallylaborious to play in opposition to. Quite a lot ofharmfulyoungergamers. They’re a troublesomestaff to play the final couple years, and we anticipatea verylaboriousrecreation tonight."
Marchand rejoins Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak on one in every of hockey’s most explosive strains. Kadri, Leo Komarov and Nylander—an in depthpal of Pastrnak’s—shall be charged with shutting them down.
Marchand turnedaware of Toronto coach Mike Babcock when the 2malesreceived Olympic and World Cup gold collectively.
"It’s not straightforwardenjoying for him. He calls forrather a lot. He expects his gamers to be superb, however he brings one of the best out of them," Marchand stated of the Leafs. "You see how this staff’s modifiedacross thefinal couple years. They’re solely going to get higher with time."

Fellow ahead Noel Acciari, who’s been restricted to only onerecreation this season after breaking a finger, additionallyattractsagain into Boston’s injury-riddled roster.
"Noel’s slightly underappreciated—not from our standpoint howeveracross the hockey world. He’s a hardnosed man who can set the tempo for us bodily. With [David] Backes out, his presence is welcomed again," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy stated.
"Marchy’s one in every ofour greatestgamers, top-of-the-linegamerswithin theNationwide Hockey League. All the timenice to have him again."Sadly, followersreceived’t get to see Marchand and Matthews head-to-head of theirgolf equipment’ first assemblybecause the former trolled this metropolis’s media with a slick praise on Twitter:

"Poking? I don’t try this, do I? By no means," stated Marchand, with a smirk.
"It’s unbelievable how one thingwill get blown up right here. He’s made some spectacularperforms this 12 months, so that you gotta give the childcredit score. I didn’t anticipate it to explodethe way in which it did. The media likes to have lots ofenjoyable."
So does Marchand.
We requested 21-year-old sniper Pastrnak to specify one factor he’s realized from recreation’s most infamous disturber.
"Trash speak," replied the Czech star. "All gamerssuppose they’re going to get him on his nostril, however that’ll by no means work. He don’t care about it, and he all the time has a solution for you."
The Maple Leafs’ shouldprovide you witha solution for Matthews’ absence in an essential divisional back-to-back.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen’s 35-save efficiency did the trick Wednesday in opposition to Minnesota, however Toronto was sorely outplayed and shall besearching fora greaterstaff effort with their MVP on the sidelines.
"We have nowto ensure we holdprofitablevideo gamesso long as he’s out. I’m positive he needs to get enjoying with us, howeveryou need tocare foryour self," stated Mitch Marner, who'scaught in a 16-game purpose drought.
"I feelindividualsmaintain it in fairlynicely, howevereach hockey participantwill getpissed offonce they’re injured and neverenjoying hockey video gamesand may’t assist their staff win. He’s in all probabilitysimplyon the point of come againquickly, and when he will getagain, he’ll be seeking to get again on that scorching roll he was on."